I ordered a 1938 Walking Liberty half dollar, MS65 from a seller called League City Gold on ebay and the order arrived yesterday, just in time for Christmas. I've gotten bonus coins before, but it's usually just a cent or something modern that is appreciated, but not worth much. This time however, I was surprised by a bag saying "Bonus Coin. Merry Christmas" which contained an 1881-S Morgan silver dollar! Other than a couple of mint products my mother has asked me first if I'd like before buying, this is the first time I've been gifted a coin since before my late father's dementia started getting bad about 10+ years ago. Certainly the first time I've been surprised about a coin in over a decade. And I truly felt like a kid on Christmas. At first I was just excited about the best "bonus coin" I've ever gotten. But I got kind of emotional as memories came rushing back about my dad including the coins he used to give me. Attached is a picture of one of the first coin my dad gave me, a 1899-O Morgan which really helped spark my interest in the hobby, next to the coin that I received yesterday. I know it's a common date and circulated. But still generous. And the moment was priceless.
My first Morgan was a gift from my own grandfather, probably 50 years ago. It was an 1881-S, too. He's been gone since a few years after that, but that particular Morgan is going nowhere, no matter what the price of silver does...
In my safe there is a 1942 mercury dime. When I was about 10 in 1986 my dad had a baby food jar in the closet he kept change in. One day i looked up and there was this mercury dime. It was the first one I ever remembered seeing. He got it out and explained it was an older dime they don't use anymore. He had gotten it in change somewhere. He gave it to me. That was the very first coin I ever collected. Somehow in all these years since I managed to not lose it. It is now in a capsule in an envelope in my safe so after I'm gone my kids will know what it is.
